ACR Product App vs Cortex Onboard
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
ACR Product App
Access Class B AIS and Emergency PLB/EPIRB data. View live AIS targets, check distress beacon details, and monitor battery status via NFC or WiFi. Configure your AIS with vessel information.
- View live AIS targets
- Check PLB/EPIRB distress beacon details
- Monitor beacon operation time and battery condition via NFC
- Configure Class B AIS with vessel details via WiFi
- Access ACR CB2 WiFi connection for AIS data
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The ACR App allows easy access to Class B AIS and Emergency PLB/EPIRB information. Live AIS targets can be displayed as well as Test and Ownership details for Distress Beacons. NFC (Near Field Communication) allows access to ResQLink AIS PLB and GlobalFix V5 details where operation time, Battery condition and test results can be easily checked and displayed on a mobile device. The use of NFC ensures that maximum battery capacity can be ensured giving you confidence that a Beacon will give maximum performance when required in an emergency situation. WiFi connection to the ACR CB2 gives access to live AIS target data along with status and performance details. Initial configuration with vessel details for the CB2 Class B AIS is also carried out via the WiFi connection.
Cortex Onboard
This app allows you to configure and update your marine electronics from your mobile device. Monitor vessel data, receive alerts, and manage features like Anchor Watch from anywhere on board.
- Configure and update Cortex devices
- View AIS information and alerts
- Manage Anchor Watch
- Monitor vessel sensors
- Connect NMEA 2000 instruments
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Cortex Onboard is free with your Cortex. Use it to configure your Cortex Hub and download updates to your Cortex devices with new features and improvements. You can also use Cortex Onboard to receive and manage alerts, view AIS information and instrument data anywhere on board your boat. View out-of-the-box sensors or NMEA 2000 networked instruments. - Setup is easy and free. - Use Cortex Onboard to configure and update your Cortex devices easily. - View AIS information and receive alerts on board direct to your device. - Manage Anchor Watch from the palm of your hand anywhere on board. - Use the Cortex Hub’s built-in sensors for battery level, barometric pressure and boat position. - Connect your Cortex Hub to NMEA 2000, or an external sensor, to add monitoring for wind, depth, bilge high water, temperature, shore power or security. - The Cortex Hub supports up to 10 WiFi devices (includes Handsets).
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: Cortex Onboard at 3.8 against ACR Product App's 1.5. Cortex Onboard also leads on review sentiment (56% vs 22%). On price, ratings volume, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
Cortex Onboard holds the better App Store score, 3.8 against 1.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 31 and 12 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 22% of ACR Product App's written reviews are positive against 56% of Cortex Onboard's.
Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on August 7, 2026 and June 7, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | ACR Product App | Cortex Onboard |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 1.5 (31 ratings) | 3.8 (12 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 21.7% of reviews | 55.6% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 31 — better | 12 |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Every 2 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 — better | 15.6 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 113 MB | 376 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Ocean Signal Limited | Garmin New Zealand Ltd |
Customer experience
ACR Product App
Cortex Onboard
In-app purchases
ACR Product App
No in-app purchases
Cortex Onboard
No in-app purchases








